langer

Langer is a surname of German origin. It derives from the adjective lang, meaning long, and most often originated as a nickname for a tall or lanky person. Over time it became a hereditary family name. In some cases the form may reflect toponymic or descriptive origins within German-speaking regions. The spelling Langer is common in Germany, Austria, and parts of Central Europe, and has spread worldwide through migration and diaspora. Related surnames include Lange, which can be considered a variant.

In contemporary usage, Langer appears primarily as a surname. There are numerous individuals with the name across fields such as science, the arts, sports, and public life, making it a recognizable family name in many countries.

The name also appears in scientific and medical eponyms. Langer's lines refer to directions of skin tension used in planning surgical incisions. Langerhans cells, a type of dendritic cell in the epidermis, are named after Paul Langerhans, a German physician who described them in the 19th century.

Langer today thus functions as both a common surname and a linguistic element that appears in various place-based and eponymous terms in German-speaking contexts.